2011 NFL Draft: Cam Newton and the Buffalo Bills Are the Perfect Match

Cam Newton. The Buffalo Bills. A match made in heaven, or a draft pick that will send the franchise into yet another abyss of playoff absence?

You may love Cam Newton. You may think he'll transcend the quarterback position as a new-age, more athletic Ben Roethlisberger.

Or, you hate him as a pro quarterback prospect, and point to his occasional inaccuracy, one year of production in college and simplistic zone-read offense in which he operated at Auburn as reasons to why he'll ultimately fail in the NFL.

For what it's worth, here's my case on why the Bills should make Cam Newton their first-round selection.

When Cam Newton becomes a professional, outside of maybe Michael Vick, he'll be the most athletic quarterback in the NFL. I like that. I'm fully aware that guys like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have become the best quarterbacks of their era, maybe even of all-time with limited athletic ability.

But if you ask me, I'm fine with my signal caller possessing an innate ability to avoid the rush and make something out of nothing on a critical 3rd and 6, gain yardage when receivers are blanketed or plow through the pile on first and goal. 

We all know the Bills can have red zone issues on occasion.  

Moreover, scrambling quarterbacks, for coaches and fans alike can be utterly terrifying. With Newton, I'm not as worried. He's a muscular 6'4'' 245lbs, with room to grow and get stronger.

We aren't dealing with Trent Edwards here (no real injury history either).

But his physique is just the beginning. 

Newton's got all you could ask for in terms of arm strength. He's NFL-ready for every pass you need your quarterback to make and delivers the ball naturally and relatively quickly.

So he tossed a few errant passes at the combine. Not the end of the world to me.

Most importantly, the guy is a proven winner. That's something you can't measure with a stopwatch, or during a workout in Under Armour shorts and a t-shirt.

His comeback against Alabama, in Tuscaloosa, will forever live in Auburn football lore and although he didn't do it by going 20-for-20 in the second half with five touchdown passes, he was the driving force behind that incredible comeback in the most hostile and rowdy environment for the Tigers.

After that, he won the National Title.

What more could you want?

Sure, he only started one season, but it was in the SEC, and are we supposed to expect that he was en route to a worse season next year had he stayed in Auburn?

Yes, Tim Tebow's stats went down after his epic sophomore season at Florida, but he wasn't any less effective leading his team.

Those of you who think he's inaccurate and believe his one-read offense at Auburn didn't properly prepare him for the NFL, bring to me to my next point.

I'm not asking Cam Newton to come to Buffalo and save the franchise at the start of next season. I'll admit, he's probably not ready to take on that tall task.

I love my man Ryan Fitzpatrick, and honestly, I think he'll only get better as he continues to gel with his receiving corp under the tutelage of Chan Gailey.

Chan Gailey is the X-factor in all of this.

As an offensive player, for the first time in a while, coming to Buffalo actually puts you in a good situation.This is a much better place to start a career, especially as a quarterback, than when Dick Jauron, Steve Fairchild or Turk Schonert were calling the shots.

Gailey knows offense, and proved last year he can get the most out of players (see Fitzpatrick, Stevie Johnson, David Nelson and Roscoe Parrish).

If Gailey can work with Newton, sharpen his accuracy and provide the needed information on the nuances of the quarterback position, maybe even mold some of his offense (that's already a spread-like system) around him, he could be more playbook-ready by year two.

That will make for a more smooth and unhurried transition to becoming an NFL starter (see Aaron Rodgers, hopefully).

Lastly, this is the time for Buffalo to draft a quarterback. 

Let's hope the Bills aren't drafting No. 3 overall anytime soon after this April. Say the Bills improve next year and move back into their usual No. 9 to 12 range. What would be the point of getting the second or third best QB?

Quarterback is one of the few positions that warrant a high, first-round pick. That's where you get your franchise guy. Mid-round prospects rarely pan out. It's been researched.

In the end, I'm ready to take the heat if the Bills select Newton and he's a bust, and I'd be OK with a few other prospects at No. 3, but this is a match that I can't envision the Bills passing up.